Goldfrapp - new album

I'm certain there was a thread on Alison & Will, but I cannot find it so apologies if I'm duplicating.

Anyway, I've always enjoyed Goldfrapp's stuff, the hard, sexy glam stomps, the fragile ethereal songs and the cinematic soundscapes - I love it all.

So it is good news to read that a new album is nearly ready and out in March - Head First it is called.

Here's the album cover.


<Edit>Just read this PR from their record label. "‘Head First' is Goldfrapp's most powerful trip to date, a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance. With life affirming lyrics and stellar production it lifts off at full tilt and takes us on a journey to the heart of 2010."
Which tells you nothing LOL. Fingers crossed they keep up the standard.

I liked the last two albums, never bought the one before that. I remember seeing them on some festival highlihghts somewhere with Alison wearing a tail ???? and thigh length boots - interesting

Ah yes, the famous tail!
Yeah, I do like her stuff, so will probably give this a bash!

Oooh, Karen O, Alison Goldfrapp, My Bury Vest and a hot steaming jacuzzi..............

Back to staring out of the window at a grey mancunian skyline.

OK, shiny new CD arrived today, and...

Well before I give my initial impressions I have to say that Goldfrapp, like Elbow, have earned a huge amount of goodwill from me over the years so whilst having high expectations, I am predisposed to liking anything Alison and Will make. With that in mind...

Head First certainly isn't Seventh Tree. It also doesn't have any of the cinematic masterpieces like "Pilots" or "Time Out from the World" that they do so well and I love so much. No, Head First is day-glo, hands in the air, happy pop, all fat Moroder synths and Hi-NRG bass. Sound a bit 80's? You bet.

1st track "Rocket" opens like Ladyhawke, but then the full "Jump" synth line kicks in, and the whole thing is just so propulsive, retro, artificial and yet joyous that you can't help but be carried along. Alison is obviously in a happy place, and you can hear that on the album. I love it, but might just as easily hate it next week.
"Believer" is all Depeche Mode style synths with a big (more accurately, absolutely massive) Fleetwood Mac style chorus. I like this too, for now.
Track 3 - "Alive". A bit more 70's than 80's this. Think ABBA versus ELO. Seriously. It should be awful, but maybe my critical radar is shot because of Alison's voice cos I like this too.
Track 4 - "Dreaming" - and a return to the 80's Fleetwood Mac style choruses.
The title track - bloody hell - who put an ABBA song on there? Possibly the best ABBA song ever, but still...
Melodically there are hints of "Seventh Tree" in here, which is nice.
Track 6's title - "Hunt" - sounds like it could have come from "Black Cherry" and the track certainly harks back to that album too, a bit darker, a bit sexier, a bit more Goldfrapp to be honest. Still in thrall of the 80s though.
"Shiny and Warm" also has echoes of Goldfrapp's past, this time Supernature. Squelchy and bouncy bass lines are almost childlike, Alison's breathy vocals are most definitely not. Good fun
Wooah, here come Fleetwood Mac again. Mrs K is gonna love this, she has a soft spot for the Mac. "I Wanna Life" (awful title) is shameless, euphoric and catchy as hell.
The album ends with "Voicething" which is all looping sounds, atmosphere and ethereal voices, carried on a synth pulse to outer space.

And that's it. A 37 minute rush of primary colours, determinedly retro beats and fun. It has none of the po-faced seriousness of, say, Delphic, it is just a sugar rush of an album.
In other hands Head First could be awful, but Will and Alison manage to fit just enough "otherness" and Goldfrapp sensibility into proceedings to create an enjoyable experience.

It frankly knocks the Goldfrapp wannabes such as La Roux and Little Boots into next week, but is still Goldfrapp's weakest record so far.
Without doubt the best 80's inspired pop record to date. The only trouble is do we really need another one of those?

I like it though.

Haven't downloaded yet, must admit i was slightly put off on the first track preview with the Van-Halen synth....

However, for a fiver it will probably go in the collection, It does sound quite upbeat - and no doubt a catchy grower. I agree with the Fleetwood Mac / Abbaesque impression on those tracks.

The only thing I'm not sure about is that the last couple of albums were kinda of pretty cool.... and this seems on first impression slightly cheesy in an 80's kind of way. But then maybe there's just enough of a Goldfrapp edge in places to get away with it.

Evertything seems so 80's at the moment though, I even noticed that some of the summer trousers/jeans have the elasticated bottoms - Dya rememeber them I had a pair or two of the baggy ones

Anyway, off to download. (and grow my hair at the back ?)

ChrissyBoy the record isn't slightly cheesy, it is piled high with the stuff. It is, however, quality cheese (mainly mozzarella, fine cheddar and perhaps a bit of roquefort) and I think that a varied diet that includes a bit of cheese is good for you.